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This post is delegated to suess-science challenge in order to participate to the @suesa science contest
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Coming to this world, we do not know anything about it at all, but time passes and we learn new facts, find patterns hidden from us earlier, and begin to notice details that were not previously paid attention. But if we abstract away from all the variety of objects that we know and pay attention to the ways that help us to understand, we will notice that there are universal methods that all people use. I want to describe these methods.
Analysis and synthesis
Analysis is a logical method of investigation in which the essence being studied is divided into some of its constituent elements, which are then studied separately.
Synthesis is the opposite of directional analysis. This method consists in combining some previously isolated and studied parts into a single whole.In our thinking, analytical and synthetic processes are very strongly interrelated. Analyzing the constituent parts of an object, we involuntarily synthesize in our thinking a new version of it, enriching our understanding of this object and its properties.
Analogy
Studying the world around us, we gradually reveal new subtleties in its structure and learn about the properties that characterize it. In this process, you can see that some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of individual objects and phenomena have a great similarity. Proceeding from this, it can be assumed that many other properties of these objects will coincide.
The analogy method is used mainly for the purposes of forecasting, and for the validity of the transfer of concepts and processes from one area to another. But using this method should be extremely accurate, since the conclusions obtained with its help are not always reliable and it will be better to supplement them with the application of other methods.
Abstraction and generalization
Abstraction refers to the selection of certain properties or characteristics of an object, and distraction from a number of its other characteristics. The objects and phenomena surrounding us have a huge number of different properties, qualities and subtleties. In the process of abstraction, the basic independent features of the object are first established, after which those relationships that are important for understanding its essence are distinguished between them.
Generalization. Using this method, we establish common characteristics of objects. The generalization is closely connected with abstraction, since abstraction creates the basis on which you can generalize a certain set of objects into one class.All classifications in the world around us are constructed using abstraction and generalization methods.
Deduction and Induction
In the study of the world around us, we often come across the boundaries of our knowledge, and we need somehow to draw our conclusions and conclusions about what lies outside these boundaries, that is, the unknown. In order to draw such conclusions in logic there are 2 ways or methods:
- Deduction is a method in which conclusions about frequent cases are built on the basis of some general principle.
- Induction - this method is directed opposite deduction. When it is used, the conclusions about the existence of a certain general principle are built on the knowledge of particular facts.
As in the case of the analogy method, induction does not always give a reliable result, since it is not always possible to cover all particular cases in order to make the correct general conclusion. Therefore, it is also desirable to combine induction with other methods.
Modeling
This method involves the study of an object by creating a copy of it, which partially or completely reproduces its properties and attributes. After which these properties and signs are subject to study. Simulation is usually used in cases where direct study of the original is difficult or impossible. Also, building and testing a model is often used before a direct study of the object of research, this method is often more profitable and economical.
These logical methods are the basic and necessary means of cognition of the surrounding world, both in the domestic sphere and in the professional sphere, so it will be extremely useful for each person to study them and apply them in their lives.